Jim McGreevey: too much of a ‘jackass’ to join gay-welcoming Episcopal clergy

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who resigned following revelations he was gay and having an extramarital affair with a male staffer, has been denied admission to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church.

Jim McGreevey

The church, which accepts gays and women into the clergy, is bothered by McGreevey’s bitter divorce from Dina Matos in 2008, and the fairly recent turmoil in his life, including his nationally televised resignation.

“It was not being gay but for being a jackass — [McGreevey] didn’t come out of the whole divorce looking good,” said a source with the Episcopal Diocese of Newark.

Some leaders also were wary of McGreevey’s sudden embrace of their faith after his scandal and feared the church was being used, the source added.

After resigning as governor, “he was sort of looking for every angle to make a complete redo of his professional life,” said another church source. “He ran to the church for some kind of cover, which isn’t fully appropriate. Even if he’s a good guy, he should wait five to 10 years to get over his issues.”

McGreevey, who converted from Catholicism after leaving office, had been studying to become a priest since 2007.